John Thomas "JACK" Murphy
May 07, 1928 - December 04, 2011
John Thomas “Jack” Murphy of Melbourne Beach, died Sunday, December 4, 2011. He was born May 7, 1928, in Woonsocket, Rhode Island. His parents were Brigadier General James Alyious Murphy and Veronica Brennan Murphy.
He married Patricia R. E. Morin in 1956. Jack served in the US Air Force for over 30 years. He practiced law for over 50 years and 25 years in Brevard County.
Jack is survived by his loving wife, Patricia R. E. Murphy, four children, John C. Murphy, Katherine R. Adams, James M. Murphy and Ann E. Moody, and seven grandchildren, Megan Murphy, Samantha Thoe, Tyler Murphy, Savanah Murphy, Heather Moody, Jessica Moody and Shannon Moody,. He was a devoted husband and father and he will be greatly missed by family and his many friends.
Jack graduated from Woonsocket High School where he was a four year member of the school paper and lettering in Cross Country and Track. During his high school years, Jack also wrote about high school sports for the local paper, the Woonsocket Call.
Jack went on to attend the University of Rhode Island. Jack was a charter member of Sigma Chi chapter. Jack was a Life Loyal Sig starting in 1950. He was a member of the Rifle Team. After only two years, Jack was accepted at the Boston University School of Law where he received his LLB in 1953. In law school, Jack was active with the Delta Theta Phi law fraternity. Later, Jack earned his LLM in Taxation in 1960. In 1976, Jack was named to the Boston University National Alumni Council.
Jack’s law school education was interrupted by the Korean War. Jack was called up and served with the US Air Force Honor Guard in Washington, DC from 1950 to 1952. After his mobilization ended, Jack returned to Boston University to finish his law degree. He was admitted to the Rhode Island Bar in 1953 and started his private law practice in Woonsocket, R. I. Jack was elected to the City Council. Highlights of his community service included being the Chairman of the 1954 March of Dimes Dance and 1956 Mardi Gras Parade which commenced a lifetime long love of parades and marching bands. He was also active in the Knights of Columbus, Kiwanis and AMVETs. All these activities while serving in the Rhode Island Air Guard.
In 1961, Jack reentered active duty as a lawyer with the Air Force Claims Division at the Pentagon in Washington DC. That division handled such litigation as personal injury, malpractice, and household goods claims. While based in Washington, Jack helped install the first worldwide computerized system that the Air Force legal personnel used. During this tour, Jack was promoted to Major and graduated from the Air War College.
In 1965, Jack’s next assignment was to Tokyo, Japan at Headquarters 5th Air Force at Fuchu Air Station again with the Air Force Claims Service serving as a Commissioner and then as the Executive Officer. The family lived at Kanto Mura a housing base a short distance away. Jack was honored with membership in the International Legal Society. Jack’s duties included playing golf with his Japanese counterparts. He began a long time involvement as an official in the American Swimming Council in Japan. The return trip to the United States was aboard the luxury cruise liner, the USS President Roosevelt.
In 1969, the next assignment was to Dayton, Ohio and Wright Patterson Air Force Base. Jack was promoted to Lt. Colonel. The family lived close to the base in a housing development called Forest Ridge. The family was active in competitive swimming and Jack became a world class starter. At the swim meets, the Midwesterners would often mock his new England lack of a “R”. Jack would solemnly direct, “Take your marks!” only to hear across the pool, “Take your maaks!”
In 1972, Jack’s next assignment was to Hanscom Field in Bedford Mass. Jack served as the Staff Judge Advocate for the Electronic Systems Division. Jack was promoted to full Colonel. The Murphy family lived in Concord. Jack continued dedicating time as a competitive swimming official although the New Englanders did understand his accent.
In 1974, the next assignment was to Osan Air Force Base in the Republic of Korea. Jack again served as the Staff Judge Advocate for the 314th Air Division and the 51st Fighter Wing. Although the tour was a hardship tour (without family), Jack bought his family who lived at Yongson Army Post in Seoul. He earned the nickname of Father Murphy from his legal team who were known as Murphy’s Marauders, the Combat JAGs.
In 1975, Jack’s next assignment was to Tinker Air Field in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. He served as the Staff Judge Advocate for the Air Logistics Center. He served as the President of the Oklahoma City Chapter of The Federal Bar Association in 1977. He supported his family by starting a track club and continuing as a swimming official. The highlight of his tour was being named a Honorary Okie by the Governor as well as a Commodore in the Oklahoma Navy.
In 1977, Jack’s last assignment bought him back to Wright Patterson AFB in Dayton, Ohio. Jack was the Chief Trial Attorney for the US Air Force for the last five years of his career. He was involved in government contracts litigation with worldwide responsibility. His trial team made “On the Road Again” famous which was later turned into a hit song.
Two years before Jack moving to Florida he passed the Florida Bar Examination and was admitted in 1980. He retired from the military in 1982 and immediately set up his law practice in Brevard County. Jack had recalled "I retired on a Friday, at noon, and got here Sunday night. I closed on our home Monday morning, moved in Tuesday morning and on Wednesday morning went to the office. I loved the Air Force. But the day I retired, I turned the corner. Jack retired from the Florida Bar in 2005. The law firm he started continues today under the name, Betten, Murphy and Weiss.
Jack was one of the first members of the Academy of Florida Elder Law Attorneys, established in 1992. At one time, he served on the Executive Council of the Elder Law, Real Estate, Probate, and Trust Law Sections. He was a former chairman of The American Bar Association Elder Law Committee. He was also a member of the Board of Directors of the Area Agency on Aging of Central Florida. For 13 years Jack worked pro-bono for seniors in Brevard at the South Brevard Geriatric Health Center formerly on New Haven Avenue.
Jack is a former Commander of the Space Coast Chapter of the Military Order of the World Wars (MOWW). He was a National MOWW officeholder as the Judge Advocate General (JAG). Jack was awarded the Commander-In-Chief Award and the coveted Gold Patrick Henry Medalion.
Jack was a member of the Board of Directors for the Melbourne Area Chamber of Commerce and was elected to the Sebastian Inlet Tax District. He was member of the Civilian Military Relations Council. He volunteered time with the Florida Tech Panther Athletic Advisory Council. He was the first Commissioner of the fledging Citrus Football Federation, a semi pro team. He was instrumental in the local team that participated in the Federation named the Space Coast Lions. He helped bring the US Olympic Boardsailing Team to Brevard as they prepared for the upcoming Games.
Jack was a Good Samaritan Club member at Holmes Regional Medical Center. He also served on the Development Council. Jack was a member of the Brevard Veterans Council, Honor America and the Military Officers Association of America where he was Member of the Month in July 1990.
Funeral Information
Services will be at the Jay Carter Memorial Chapel at Buena Vida Estates at 10 AM on Friday, December 9, 2011. Buena Vida, 724-0060, is located at 2129 West New Haven Avenue, West Melbourne.
Donations Information
In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Family Network on Disabilities, (www.fndusa.org), 2196 Main Street, Suite K, Dunedin, FL 34698.